The number of people looking to grow their own vegetables has skyrocketed. With the cost of food increasing and availability waning, more and more people are interested in growing their own. But what are the best plants to start with? I’ve put together a guide on the top 15 easiest plants to grow from seed. You can also enter a fantastic competition with Seed Parade to win 30 packets of amazing seeds. That way you can really get growing in your garden this summer and enjoy everything that you harvest.
Top 12 Easiest Plants To Grow From Seed
This is a collaborative post
Lettuce
Lettuce grown from seed is so satisfying. It grows so quickly and there is nothing better than picking off a few leaves for the freshest lunchtime meal going. You can grow it outside or in your greenhouse. There are so many different types. We grow winter gem most of the year and it is a lovely fresh and delicious lettuce which sees us through much of the spring, summer and autumn.
Beetroot
Beetroot is one of the easiest plants to grow from seed. If you sow your beetroot seeds every couple of weeks throughout late spring and into summer, you’ll be able to harvest them regularly. Beetroot normally takes about 6 – 8 weeks to grow to size and then you can either cook them from fresh or pickle them for storage.
Tomatoes
Another easy-to-grow plant is the humble tomato. There are lots of different varieties, so you can choose the ones that you like best. Cherry, beefsteaks or plum tomatoes are all easy to grow and taste so much nicer when you pick them straight from the vine. Again these are good for smaller spaces as you can train them upwards.
Courgette
You can easily feed your whole family for the summer on just a couple of courgette seeds which is why it makes the list of the easiest plants to grow from seed. Courgette plants grow pretty much anywhere and as long as you keep them watered, they will produce an abundance of courgettes all summer long. There are so many different varieties you can grow, not just the standard green ones that you find in the shop. Have a look around and perhaps try growing a couple of different varieties.
Cucumbers
Cucumbers are quick and easy to grow in a garden or a greenhouse. You will need to check the variety you have chosen as some will grow better in a warmer environment like a greenhouse, but there are plenty of options for growing outdoors. If you are a little short on space, you can try training your cucumber plants to grow up an obelisk or trellis and then you can easily snip the plants off when they are ready. Cucumbers can be prone to powdery mildew, so always water from the roots and try to keep the leaves thinned out and dry. There are varieties which are unlikely to be affected by powdery mildew so you can always plant these varieties instead.
Sunflowers
Although you can eat a sunflower, you can harvest the seeds for adding to lots of things like cereal, flapjacks and protein balls. Sunflowers are easy to grow and great for kids too as they take a lot of watering and are quick to grow. Who doesn’t love a happy sunflower face?
Spinach
Like lettuce seeds, spinach will grow well from seed. You can plant this directly outside in the UK when the last chance to frost has passed and you should find you have plenty of spinach to cook in just a few short weeks.
Chillies
Chillies are an easy plant to grow from seed. There are so many different varieties, but one of our favourites is the Padron pepper. These can easily be grown in pots either indoors in a sunny spot or outside on a sunny patio and they will provide you with some spicy additions to your summer harvest.
Squashes
Squashes are one of the best vegetables to grow from seed. They are also one for beginner growers to start with. Winter squashes tend to take a long time to ripen, but they are well worth the wait. Most winter squashes will store well so you can pick them when ready, harden them off and then eat them throughout the winter when fewer fresh vegetables are growing.
Carrots
Carrots are one of my favourite things to grow from seed as they are so rewarding when you pull them up. You can grow carrots in pretty much any space, you just need to think about the variety. If you only have a shallow space, think about a small, round variety like an atlas carrot. If you have a deeper space, there are so many lovely carrot options for you to grow. Carrots can be stored in sand once harvested and eaten throughout the autumn and winter.
Nasturtiums
Nasturtiums are a great addition to any garden and will grow with ease. Nasturtiums are edible and can be added to summer salad to give a bright dish with a peppery taste.
Sweetcorn
Sweetcorn is really impressive to grow and very easy to do so from seed. You’ll need to make sure you grow them in a block as they are wind pollinated, but even in a small space, you’ll be able to grow tall plants that can produce a few delicious corns on the cob. Perfect for the BBQ or adding to a delicious summer salad.
So if you are thinking about what to sow and what are the easiest plants to grow from seed, here are some fantastic suggestions to get you started. Happy growing!
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